CENTRIFUGAL PUMP Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: hydraulic machinery engineering; centrifugal pumps, compressors, turbines. SUBSTANCE: proposed centrifugal pump includes drive shaft, bladed impeller with hubs whose sealing surfaces are engageable with elastic rings locked in pump housing against turning. Each elastic ring is fitted for motion in radial direction relative to pump housing and pressing to hub surface at minimum clearance under action of forces formed due to pressure differential created by pump impeller during operation of pump. Inner surface of each elastic ring has recesses which are smoothly distributed in central portion over circumference; these recesses form hydrodynamic wedge during rotation of impeller between surface of elastic ring and cylindrical surface of impeller hub. Recesses on inner surface of ring are stepped or wedgeshaped in form. EFFECT: enhanced reliability of self-sealing; reduced power requirements. 3 cl, 3 dwg